Road marker



Oct. 13, 1931. J. 5. LITTLEFORD, JR

ROAD MARKER Original Filed Feb. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 13, 1931. J. 5. LITTLEFORD, JR

ROAD MARKER Original Filed Feb. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN S. LITTLEFOBD, JR, OF IFOB'I. THOMAS, KENTUCKY .noa n manna Application filed February 27, 1928, Serial No. 257,468. Renewed July 15, 1981.

My invention relates to improvements in road marking apparatus. One of its ob ects is to provide an improved road marker adapted to be manually propelled or ower driven as may be desired. Another ob ect is to provide a resilient and adjustable tension of the marker wheel upon the road surface independent of the propelling or guiding means. Another object is to relieve the handle bars or other propelling means from vibrati-on or shock due to the marker wheel passing over uneven road surfaces. An

other object is to provide for producmg a mark of uniform strength or density upon the road irrespective of the amount or head of paint in the paint reservoir or any inequalities in the road surface. Another object is to prevent the feed or drip of the marking fluid when the marking wheel is out of contact with the road surface. Another object is to provide improved means to feed and d1stribute the marking fluid uniformly over the face of the marking wheel irrespective of vanation in the viscoslty or other qualities of the marking fluid employed. Another object is to provide improved means adapted to be conveniently shifted from idle to operatlve position and adapted to sweep the road surface in advance of the marker wheel. other object is to provide an improved truck or supporting structure, and improved adjustable means to guide the truck and marking wheel and to variably tension the marker -wheel relative to the truck. My invention also comprises certain details of formand arrangement and combination of components, all of which will be fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which: a

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a road marking apparatus arranged for manual propulsion and guidance, embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail through the axis of the marker Wheel, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail taken on 4-4 of Fig. 1.

line Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the road sweeper and its driving mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a detail'of the mechanism em- 65 ployed to spread and feed the marking fluid to the marker wheel.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of my invention in which 15 represents the frame or truck u on which the marker wheel 16 is journaled y means of an axle 17. The truck 15 is provided with journal boxes in rear of the journals for the axle 17 to support a truck axle 18, which axle 18 is supported upon the road surface by means of truck wheels 19. The truck wheels 19 are uniformly in contact with the road surface and serve to support the weight of the truck. The marker wheel is in contact with the road surface when marking the road and is out of contact with the road surface except when employed to mark the road, which is efiected by tilting the truck upon the axle l8 and wheels 19 so as to elevate the marker wheel out of contact with the road. Marker wheels of 76 different widths are designed to be interchanged upon the axle 17 A supplemental truck member 20 is provided with journal bearings 21 in which the axle 18 is journaled, thereby hinging the 8 truck member 20 to the truck 15 upon the axle 18 as a hinge pin or axle. As' shown in Fig. 6, the relative hinge movement of the truck members 15 and 20 is limited by means of a bolt 22, passing through the web of truck member 20 and also through the web 73 of the truck member 15, a tension spring 72 encircles the bolt 22 between the webs of the truck members 15 and 20 and a tensioning spring 23 is interposed between the web 73 and an adjustable nut 24. The truck member 20 detachably supports a tank 25in which is stored a body of marking fluid, white paint for instance. A pair of handle bars 26 are adjustably mounted upon the truck member 20, and enable an operator to guide the truck and marker wheel wherever desired. By shifting the handle bars to different positions of inclination in a horizontal plane, the operator is enabled to walk at either side of the freshly laid mark, or to straddle the mark if desired, depending upon whether it is a straight or curved mark. Also by elevating or depressing the handle bars the marker wheel may be adjusted into contact with the road surface or elevated above and out of contact with the road surface. WVhen the handle bars are in position to cause the marker wheel to contact with the road surface, a limited amount of tension is placed upon the springs 72 and 23, which creates a resilient tension upon the marker wheel independently of movement of the handle bars, tending to cause i the marker wheel to automatically follow the inequalities of the road surface and to apply an even and uniform coating of paint upon the low as well as the high points of the road surface without requiring constant'attention and adjustment of the marker wheel through the handle bars. The tension of the springs 72 and 23 interposed between the handle bars and the marker wheel relieves the handle bars and the wrists of the operator from vibrations and shocks due to inequalities in the road surface. a In order to conveniently interchang marker wheels upon the axle '17, I preferably provide a sleeve 64 upon the axle 17 intermediate of the arms of the truck member 15. A marker wheel of any desired Width of face is slipped loosely over the sleeve 64, and the sprocket wheel 27 slipped onto the sleeve 64 adjacent to the hub of the marker wheel. The hub of the sprocket wheel 27 is provided with a clutch pin 62 which enters a recess in the hub of the marker wheel so as to clutch the sprocket wheel and marker wheel together. A set screw 63 serves to lock the marker wheel, sprocket wheel, and sleeve to the axle 17, or if desired to lock the marker wheel, sprocket wheel, and sleeve together allowing the sleeve to rotate on the axle 17. A cross pin 65 enables the axle 17 and marker wheel to be turned by hand when cleaning the paint from the marker wheel. By withdrawing the axle 17 endwise from the sleeve 64, the marker wheel may readily be removed and replaced with a marker wheel of a different width of face. The spur gear 27 drives a pinion 28 upon a shaft 29 which actuates a small pump 30 whenever the marker wheel is rotated by reason of being in contact at its periphery with the road surface. A flexible tube 31 leads from the supply tank 25 to the pump 30, and a conduit 32, preferably supplied with a cut-off and regulating valve 33, serves to deliver the paint or other marking fluid through the exit end 34 of the conduit 32 upon the central and upper portion of the marker wheel. The exit end 34 is made the highest point in the conduit 32 so that the instant that the marker wheel is lifted from contact with the road surface and the pump ceasesto rotate, all fiow or even drip of marking fluid at the exit 34 ceases. The exit to the truck frame 15.

34 is also preferably higher than the level of the marking fluid in the tank 25, which insures that the fluid will not leak past the pump so as to drip at the exit 34.

The viscosity and other physical characteristics of the paint or marking fluid vary from time to time and with changes in the nature of the fluid, and these variations tend to materially affect the regulation and distribution of the marking fluid upon and uniformly over the face of the marker wheel. In order to insure such regulation and distribution irrespective of variations in the marking fluid, I provide a roller 35 of sufficient weight to bear upon the face of the marker wheel and force the marking fluid laterally from the center of the marker wheel where it is delivered from the exit 34 in both directions toward the edges of the marker wheel until the fluid is evenly and uniformly distributed entirely across the face of the marker wheel from one edge to the other thereof. By providing properly proportioned helical or annular grooves 36 in the face of the roller 35, said grooves serve to meter and distribute the marking fluid as a series of closely spaced parallel circumferential lines or ribs of marking fluid upon the face of the marker wheel which later spread out and merge one with another to form a substantially uniform sheet or coating over the face of the marker wheel where said wheel contacts with the road sur face, and thereby provides a mark of uniform width and even density. The roller 35 is journaled in the free ends of two links or arms 37, which are pivotally attached at 38 The'weight of the roller 35 holds it in place upon the marker wheel. The roller 35 may be thrown back out of engagement with the marker wheel if desired. The marker wheel is provided with a soft rubber tire 40 over which is drawn a canvas facing 41, which is secured in place by means of draw strings 42.

A sweeper drum or cylinder 43 is mounted upon an axle 48 upon which axle are loosely journaled supporting wheels 57 and 58. The axle 48 is journaled at opposite ends to the free ends of arms or links 44, which. are pivotally attached at 45 to the truck member 15.

In its full line position Fig. 1 the sweeper drum rests in front of the marker wheel upon the road surface and is driven in a direction the reverse to that of its progress along the road by means of a chain belt 46, strained {Itish with the gear 27 and the sweeper is 1 e.

Vhen it is desired to attachthe marker to a truck or other power driven vehicle, the truck member 20 and tank 25 are detached from the truck member 15 and axle 18, and a bracket member attached to the running board or other part of the power driven vehicle takes the place of the truck member 20, and is provided with a bolt 22, spring 23 and nut 24, similar to those shown in Fig. 6, whereby the marker wheel may be yieldingly tensioned relative to its propelling member. The tank 25 may then be set upon the truck and connected by its conduit 31 with the'pump 30. A hand lever attached to the frame 15 and operated by an operator carried on the truck serves to lift the marker wheel from the road surface whenever required.

The apparatus herein shown and described is capable of considerable modification within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A road marker comprising a truck memher, a truck supporting 'axle having wheels to support said truck member, a marker wheel supported upon said truck and adapted by rocking said truck upon its supporting axle to be engaged with and disengaged from the road surface, a propelling member hinged upon said truck supporting axle and means interposed between said propelling member and said marker wheel to yieldingly tension the application of the marker wheel to the road surface.

2. A road marker comprising a truck axle having supporting wheels in engagement with the road surface, a truck member mounted upon and adapted to be rocked upon said axle, a marker wheel adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the road surface by rocking said truck member upon said axle, a truck propelling member, and means interposed between said propelling member and said marker wheel to apply yielding tension to said marker wheel to cause the marker wheel to follow inequalities in the road.

3. A road marker comprising a truck axle having supporting wheels in engagement with the road surface, a main truck member forward of said axle and adapted to be rocked upon said axle, a marker wheel journaled to said main truck member, an auxiliary truck member through which energy to propel said truck is applied, hinged to said truck axle, resilient tensioning means interposed between said main and auxiliary truck members and adapted to yieldingly hold the marker wheel in contact with the road surface.

4. A road marker comprising a truck axle having supporting wheels in engagement with the road surface, a main truck member forward of said axle and adapted to be rocked upon said axle, a marker wheel journaled to said main truck member, an auxiliary truck member through which energy to propel said truck is applied, hinged to said truck axle, resilient tensioning means interposed between said main and auxiliary truck members and adapted to yieldingly hold the marker wheel in contact with the road surface, a marking fluid reservoir mounted upon said auxiliary truck member, a pump driven from said'marker wheel and adapted to pump a supply of marker fluid from said reservoir and discharge said fluid through a discharge conduit upon the face of said marker wheel, the exit end of said discharge conduit being above the fluid level in said reservoir and the highest point in said discharge conduit to prevent discharge or drip of the marking'fluid when-the marker wheel is out of contact with the road surface.

5. A road marker comprising a truck axle having supporting wheels in engagement with the road surface, a main truck member forward of said axle, a marker wheel journaled to said main truck member in advance of said truck axle, a marking fluid reservoir mounted upon said truck, a pump driven from said marker wheel and adapted to pump a supply of marking fluid from said reservoir and discharge said fluid through a discharge conduit upon the face of said marker wheel, the exit end of said discharge conduit being above the fluid level in said reservoir and the highest point in said discharge conduit to prevent discharge or drip of the marking fluid when the marker wheel is out of contact with the road surface.

6. A road marker comprising a truck axle having supporting wheels in engagement with the road surface, a main truck .member forward of said axle, a marker wheel journaled to said main truck member in advance of said truck axle, a marking fluid reservoir mounted upon said truck, a pump driven from said marker wheel and adapted to pump a supply of marking fluid from said reservoir and discharge said fluid through a discharge conduit upon the face of said marker wheel, the exit end of said discharge conduit being above the fluid level in said reservoir and the highest point in said discharge conduit to prevent discharge or drip of the marking fluid when the marker wheel is out of contact with the road surface, means to feed a supply of markinggfluid upon the face of said marker wheel. and a distributing roller in engagement with the face of said marker wheel. said distributing roller being provided with a series of substantially parallel grooves encircling its periphery and serving to spread and meter the supply of marking fluid passing through said grooves and between said roller and marker wheel.

7. A road marker comprising a marker truck, a marker wheel mounted upon said truck and adjustable into and out of engagement with the road surface, means to feed a supply of marking fluid upon the face of said marker wheel, a distributing roller in engagement with the face of said marker,

wheel, said distributing roller being'provided with depressions in its periphery serving to feed the marking fiu1d in measured quantity between said roller and said marker wheel, and to distribute the marking fluid uniformly over the face of said marker wheel." l

8. A road marker comprising a marker truck, a marker wheel mounted upon said truck and adjustable into and out of engage'ment with the road surface, an adjustable supporting frame pivotally mounted upon said truck and adjustable from an idle to an active position, a road'sweeping drum journaled to said frame and having an idle and an active position, and driving means operatively connecting said sweeping drum in driving relation with said marker wheel when said sweeping drum is in its active position. o

9. A road marker comprising a truck axle having supporting Wheels in engagement p with the road surface, a main truck member forward of said axle, a marker wheel journaled to said main truck member in advance of said truck axle, a marking fluid reservoir mounted upon said truck, a pair of propelling handle bars mounted upon and extending rearwardly from said truck, said handle bars being respectively adjustable relative to said truck to enable the operator to walk along upon one side of the fresh mark as well as to straddle the mark.

10. A road marker comprising a truck axle having supporting wheels in engagement with the road surface, a truck member adapted to be rocked upon said axle, a marker wheel axle mounted upon said truck member, a sleeve mounted upon said marker-wheel axle, a marker wheel and a pump driving wheel mounted upon said sleeveand clutched one to the other. I

' 11. A road marker comprising a truck axle having supporting wheels in engagement with the road surface, a truck member adapted to be rocked upon said axle, a marker wheel axle mounted upon and removable endwise from said truck member, means to manually rotate said marker wheel axle, a sleeve mounted upon said marker wheel axle, 'a marker wheel and a pump driving wheel mounted upon said sleeve and clutched one to the other, and means adjustable to lock said marker wheel, driving wheel, and sleeve in driving relatioii to said marker wheel axle.

12. A road marker comprising a hand propelled truck member, a ruck supporting axle having wheels to support said truck member and u )on which said truck is adapted to be rocke manually to apply the marker wheel to the roadbed and remove the marker wheel nature. I

JOHN S. LITTLEFORD, JR. 

